** These views are not affiliated or held by Hollins University. These are my own individual views and experiences. **
Pain. Anger. Despair. Disappointed.
These are just a few words to explain the whirlwind of emotions I feel inside and can barely contain. Not only have we, as a country, failed those who need us most, but we have elected someone who will further alienate our fellow friends and family based on race, gender or disability. Why has more than half of the country decided that their lives matter more than those of minorities, LGBTQIA, and women. Why has more than half of the country decided that they can push all those who fit into those categories into one little corner and get rid of us.
As I walked around my university I saw that a hush had fallen over the entire campus. The people I saw on a daily basis who always had a spring in their step and a smile on their face were now walking in a robotic formation towards the dining hall with either no expression or tears streaming down their faces. As I walked around the campus, drinking it all in, the campus that is almost always buzzing with activity was as still and silent as a ghost town.
I heard many different stories today from a diverse group of people and I cried through every single one. The first was about an individual who identified as a boy that wished that they had male counterparts so they wouldn’t be terrified to walk around the city without being assaulted. The second was about how we as women could possibly feel safe when people have already started to make crude comments about how they wouldn’t have to deal with any consequences if they were to abuse women. The third hit close to home, being a brown woman, she was frightened to even step off of campus because she feels that she would be taunted, beat up and violated. The fourth one was about an individual who is terrified of the thought of conversion camps because they didn’t identify as a “traditional” man or woman.
However, I did not see just the bad side of campus, I was blessed with something more. I saw individuals giving hugs, giving back rubs, giving support to those who need it. There was a deafening silence that had come over the campus and it was a breath of relief to hear laughs coming from groups of people. There were wonderful people walking around with flowers, letters and chocolates. I felt the need to go door to door to hand out candy so people can feel positivity and love when they need it most. The amount of support and tenderness that was being displayed has shocked me because I haven’t seen this amount of love in this capacity before. Throughout the day, there was a sense of relief going through the campus because of the amount of love, support and tenderness that was being conveyed through all mediums.
We can stand together and beat any force that threatens the well-being of our friends, our family and ourselves. We are stronger together and we can fight against bigotry, misogyny, hatred, racism, sexism and anything else the world gives to us. We are stronger together when we show compassion and love for each other. Love each other and anything is possible.
